Health · Healthcare & Policy · 6 hrs ago
First NHS psychiatric intensive care unit for women to open in Kent and Medway
Kent and Medway is opening its first NHS psychiatric intensive care unit for women with serious mental health needs.
The 10-bed facility is at Littlestone Lodge in Dartford and was funded by a £4.63m investment from Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust.
It will provide short-term, intensive care for women who need extra support during serious mental health difficulties.
Until now, women in the region needing this specialist care could not receive it from the trust.
The unit is expected to provide around 2,500 bed days of care each year, and its first patient is expected towards the end of November.
The trust says the service will help women move between hospital wards and community services as their needs change.
Two beds may also be used by women referred from other NHS trusts, depending on their needs.
Kent and Medway’s first NHS psychiatric intensive care unit for women is due to open at Littlestone Lodge in Dartford.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust invested £4.63m in the 10-bed facility.
It will provide short-term, intensive care for women with serious mental health difficulties who need extra support.
The unit is expected to provide around 2,500 bed days of care each year.
It is due to welcome its first patient towards the end of November.
- Who
- Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is opening the unit for women with serious mental health needs.
- What
- A 10-bed NHS psychiatric intensive care unit will provide short-term, intensive care.
- When
- It is due to open soon and welcome its first patient towards the end of November.
- Where
- Littlestone Lodge in Dartford, Kent and Medway.
- Why
- Women in the region have not previously had access to this specialist care from the trust.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Investment
- £4.63m
- Capacity
- 10 beds
- Location
- Littlestone Lodge, Dartford
- Expected annual care
- Around 2,500 bed days
- Other NHS trusts
- Two beds will be available for women referred by other NHS trusts, depending on individual needs.
What people are saying
have not been able to receive this specialist care from our team
This new service means we can now provide specialist, compassionate care at a particularly difficult time in their lives.
Our team will take the time to get to know each woman, understand what matters to her and recognise her as a person, not just her mental health needs.